Closed measuring-can.



No. 697,047. Patented Apr. s, |902. 1 c. H. wesen. 1

CLOSED MEASURING CAN.

(Application Bled July 5, 1901.)

Patented Apr. 8,v i902.

C. yH. WEBER. fcLosEo mEAsuRING CAN.

(Application` filed July 5, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

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Nirnn Srarns .WENTn OFFICE.

CHARLES H. WEBER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CLOSED IVIEASURING-CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 697,047, dated .April 8, 1902.

Application led July 5,1901. Serial No. 67,133. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it nzrty concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. VEBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Closed Measuring- Cans; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved measuring-can having a device by means of which predetermined amounts of the material contained Within the can may be removed therefrom without opening up the can directly to the atmosphere.

To the above ends the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The device was especially designed to contain ground coffee, spices, and light finelyground materials which by exposure to the air lose their strength by evaporation. The can is, however, adapted for general use and may be made of various sizes. In fact I contemplate making the same in large form to adapt it for use for containing ground stockfoods or even foods that have not been ground.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views. y

Figurel shows a can in side elevation einbodying the several features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line m2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line m3 at* of Fig. 2 looking downward. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on said line 03004 of Fig. 2 looking upward. Fig. 5 is a view corresponding in the line of its section to Fig. 4, but illustrating different positions of the parts. Fig. (i is a View, partly in side elevation and partly in section, on the line au x6 of Fig. 5, some parts being broken away; and Fig. 7 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in central section, at right angle to the section-line 5064116, some parts being broken away and the cup-like bottom of the can being removed from working position.

The numeral 1 indicates the body of the can, which is preferably of cylindrical form throughout and is open at its extreme lower end. Vithin the can l, a considerable distance above its lower end, is a horizontallyeXtended partition or bottom proper, 2, which is provided with several (as shown two) quite large discharge-openings 2a. (Best shown in Figs. 5 and 6.) NVorking close to the partition or bottom end 2 and pivoted to the center thereof by a stud or rivet 3 is a so-called valve-plate4, provided with large peripheral notches 5. The valve-plate 4 acts in the manner of a damper to open aud close the perforations 2L in the bottom 2 of the can. The said valve-plate 4 is provided with a depending lug G for a purpose which will presently appear.

Vorking telescopically and rotatively within the open lower end of the can l is a removable cup-like bottom or measuring-cup 7, which is provided at its upper edge with the notch 8, adapted to receive the depending lug G of the valve-plate 4. The measuringcup 7 is also provided with an outwardly-projecting lug 9, which is adapted to be passed upward through an outwardly-bulged channel l0 an d into a circumfcrentiallyextended channel 1l, both of which channels are formed in the lower portion of the can l. The Vertical channel 10 opens into the circumferential channel 11, close to one end thereof, as best shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The Ineasuring-cup 7 is provided within with a vertically-adjustable false bottom 12, which is shown as yieldingly held upward by a coil-` spring 13, compressed between the same and the bottom of the said cup. A screw-threaded stud 14, secured at its lower end to the bottom of the cup 7 andpassed through a suitable perforation in the center of the false bottom 12, is provided at its upper end with a thumb-nut 15, by means of which the said false bottom may be set in any desirable adjustment.

lVhen the can is closed and the parts are in their normal adjustments, they will stand as shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4. Otherwise stated, the discharge -passages 2a will be closed by the valve-plate 4, the lug 9 will be engaged with the extremity of the channel IOO 1l, as shown in said Figs. 3 and 4, and the measuring-cup 7'A will be locked against downward movement. v

The notch 8 in the flange of the cup 7 is of such width that the cup 7 may be rotated far enough to bring the lug 9 into alinement with the vertical channel 10, and thus permit the removal of the said cup from the can l without moving the valve-plate 4 to open up the passages 2a. When, however, the cup 7 is rotated into the position indicated in Fig. 5, it will move the said valve-plate and open up the diseharge-perforations 2a. Vhen the discharge-passages 2 are open, the material from within the can l will run through the same and form conical piles, substantially as indicated by the dotted lines marked e in Figs. 6and 7. It is evident that the closer the false bottom 12 stands to the passages 22L the smallerl will be the conical pile z and that the farther away the said parts stand the larger will be the said piles. It, therefore, of course follows that by the proper adjustments of the said false bottom 12 any desired measure of the material contained within the can may be drawn off by a single operation. In other words, if used to contain coffee a predetermined desired amount required may be measured, or if used to contain food for stock, for instance, the proper feed may be withdrawn.

From what has above been said it will of course be understood that my invention is capable of considerable modification and that it is adapted to a large range of use. When the can is made very large, this would usually be done, and some convenient means for supporting the can with its lower end above the Hoor or ground would usually be provided. When the can is made small, it may be readily turned upside down and filled through the so-called discharge-passages 2,

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

l. The combination with a can having perforations in its bottom and having a pivoted valve for opening and closing said perforations, of a measuring-cup adapted to detachably telescope with and rotate with respect to said can, said cup having detachable connection with said valve, whereby said valve may be operated while said cup closes the end of said can and said cup is adapted to be removed with the measured load, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a can having perforations in its bottom, and having a pivoted valve for opening and closing said perforations, of a measuring-cup having an adjustable false bottom, which cup telescopes with and rotates with respect to Said can and has detachable engagement with said valve, whereby the said valve may be operated, by rotary movement of said cup While in operative position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES II. WEBER.

Vitnesses:

E. H. KELIHER, F. D. MERCHANT. 

